DIFFERENT SUBSTRATES AND IRRIGATION DEPTHS ON PRODUCTION COMPONENTS OF THE ‘BIQUINHO’ PEPPER*

Abstract

The present work had the primary objective of evaluating the production response and water use efficiency of the Biquinho pepper for different irrigation depths and substrates. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse located at the Alegrete campus of the Federal University of Pampa. We performed an entirely randomized 2 x 5 two-factor experimental design (two substrate compositions and five irrigation depths). The substrate composition treatments used were a commercial substrate and the mixture of commercial substrate + carbonized rice hull. The treatments for the water replacement depths were 25, 50, 75, 100, and 125% of the water holding capacity for each substrate. At the end of the cycle, we assessed the following components: crop yield, production, water use efficiency, and fruit diameter, length, average weight, and number. The yield and water use efficiency components were more significant when using the commercial substrate + carbonized rice hull composition. The maximum technical production efficiency was obtained for an irrigation depth of 101.7% of the water holding capacity. On the other hand, the water use efficiency was higher when using a depth of 69.17%.